Westbury trapped in deadly gang war

By Palesa Matlala

• Community activist Eugene Dooms says 22 people were killed in Westbury between July and August as rival gangs fight for control.

• Gang violence has disrupted schools, with some learners missing lessons, assessments and preliminary exams because travelling through the area became unsafe.

Residents of Westbury in Johannesburg say they are scared to walk their own streets as gunshots ring out almost every day.

A violent battle involving the Varados and Fast Guns gangs has turned parts of the community into dangerous ground.

The gangs are said to be fighting over drugs and territory.

Community activist Eugene Dooms, from One Force SA, said the violence has reached frightening levels.

“From July to August, there have been 22 people killed. This is only in Westbury,” Dooms said.

“We’re not free when walking in the streets because shots can go off randomly at any time.”

Dooms said gangs have been part of the area since the late 1970s, but the latest violence is particularly bad.

He believes the fighting has moved beyond drugs and territory, with gangs splitting into smaller groups.

“Everyone wants a piece of the pie,” he said.

Dooms also criticised the government’s response.

The government is spending R823-million to deploy the South African National Defence Force to gang-hit areas in Gauteng, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape under Operation Prosper.

But Dooms said residents were not seeing results.

“We are not seeing any prosecutions,” he said.

He called on residents to unite against the violence.

“It’s our kids killing one another. It is only us that can save us. Our community needs to come together and stand together.”

Adding that, they want Westbury declared a disaster area by government.

Sadly, schools caught in the violence

The violence is also hurting children who are simply trying to get an education.

Gauteng Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Lebogang Maile raised concerns after another shooting.

Early information received by the department indicated that five young people had been shot. Three were reported dead and two critically injured.

The department confirmed that one victim was a learner at R.W. Fick Secondary School.

The violence has stopped some learners from attending school and writing assessments and preliminary exams.

Maile said they would be given another chance.

“No learner should be academically prejudiced by circumstances beyond their control,” he said.

Four dead after Newclare shooting

Police also confirmed another deadly shooting in nearby Newclare on Saturday, 15 August.

Sophiatown police were called to a flat at about 9.34pm.

Inside, officers found three young people aged between 18 and 20 who had been shot.

Paramedics declared them dead at the scene.

Two more people, aged 18 and 23, were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.

One later died, bringing the death toll to four.

Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said police are investigating four murders and one attempted murder.

No arrests had been made and police were still investigating.

For residents, the fear remains.

Every burst of gunfire brings another terrifying question: who will be caught in the violence next?

Pictured above: Westbury residents say deadly gang violence has left their community living in fear.

Image source: Palesa Matlala.